Col de la Croix de Fer

Its cycling history, statistics, and map

The Col de la Croix de Fer (Iron Cross) is a high pass in the northern Alps in the Savoie department of the Rhône-Alpes region. It is situated between the Arc and Romanche valleys.

The D926 road that services the pass (which was originally a smuggler's route) connects St. Jean de Maurienne and Bourg d'Oisans. Riders leaving from St. Jean de Maurienne can turn off partway and ascend the Glandon

The Col de la Croix de Fer wasn't included in the Tour de France until 1947. That year is was part of stage eight, won by Fermo Camellini of the Italian team. That year the Croix de Fer was preceded by the Glandon and then riders went over the Télégraph and the Galibier before finishing in Briançon.

Since 1947, it has been an irregular part of the Tour, having been ascended 16 times (as of 2013).

Map of the Col de la Croix de Fer (at the red "A"). The little squiggle on the D927 near its intersection with the D926 in the lower left is the Col du Glandon. St. Jean de Maurienne, where the classic climb begins is near Saint Pancrace, on the right, about a third of the way up the map.